11 buses removed by TUSD over fire concerns back on job

Eleven TUSD school buses are back in business after being pulled off the road when the same model caught fire earlier this year.

The investigation showed that the fire was caused by an electrical issue, not a maintenance oversight, said TUSD risk manager Nicole Lowery.

The 11 other buses have been modified and are now considered safe, having been used for summer school.

Meanwhile, the Tucson Unified School District is working with the vendors involved to resolve the issue and recoup the value of the destroyed bus — approximately $145,000.

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The 5-year-old bus was en route to pick up children from a school just minutes away when the fire broke out in February. The driver was able to exit safely.

“Our buses are well-maintained, our drivers are well-trained and we make every effort every day to ensure the safety of our students,” said TUSD director of transportation Mike Johnson. “I’d put my kids on that bus if I had school-age children.”

TUSD school buses are checked by drivers before and after each trip and are inspected more thoroughly three times a year, Johnson said.